Window latch



April 1950 J. w. WEXLER 2,505,598

WINDOW LATCH Filed April 9, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet l 25 ///////lIIl' I.

April 25, 1950 J w, WEXLER 2,505,598

WINDOW LATCH Filed April 9, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fatented Apr. 25, 1950 'omreo ES PATENT o WINDOW LATCH Jo'lmW. "Werner, sitter "Spring, h'pplioationhpril :3, 1947, Serial No. "740,296

'7 Claims. (01. 292- 145) ,1 I This invention relates to window latch devices. and more particularly, to window latches' of the sliding type.

an improved window latch device which is very inexpensive to manufacture, neat in appearance and sturdy in construction.

A still further object of the -invention is to provide an improved window latch device which may be fabricated from relatively light gauge sheet metal, yet by virtue of its configuration, is extremely rigid andable toresist powerful forces exerted thereon.

A still further object of theinvention is toprovide an improved window latch device of the sliding lock type wherein safety locking means are incorporated in the latch device, permitting said latch device to be manipulated from inside the window to lock or unlock same but preventing the latch device from being released from its locking position by shaking the window sash from outside the window. I

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein: I

Figure -1 is a fragmentary elevational view of a. portion of a window structure showing a window sash locking device installed thereon in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged horizontal cross-sec tional detail view takenon 1ine 22 oiE- Figure 1 Figure 3 is a vertical cross-sectional detail view taken on line 3-3 ofFigure 2. I I

Figure 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on line i-i of Figure 2. I I

Figure 5 is an enlargeddetailflplah view of a base element em'plbyedin the latch structureoi the present invention. I I I Figure 6 is anlend elevational viewer the base element of'Figure 5.

Figure 7 is an enlarged perspectivedetair view of a sliding latch member employed Withthe ba'se element of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view simi-' lar to Figure 3 but showing a modified form of the latch structure according to this invention.

Figure 9 is an enlarged perspective "detail view of a sliding latch member empioyee 'in the latch structure of Figure 8.

Referring to the drawings, H designate's a'conventional window sash having a top sash member I 2 and a bottom sash member [3 Designated at ii is a vertical side member of the window' fifarne. The vertical side members of "the window trahie are provided with conventional vertical guide" 'ways in which the sash members "and H are slidably received,

Secured to the top meeting rail l5 of lower member is adjacent the vertical side member I -4.

as byround-headed screws l6, I6, is a base member l1, shown in Figures 5 and i5, which h'as a generally rectangular bottom portion l8 formed with fastening apertures l9, l9 and having inturned side flanges '26-, 29 defining lateral guide ways. Slidably mounted on bottom portion I3 is alatch member 2! having a base portion 22 provided with laterally projecting horizontal side flanges 23, 23 slidably received in the" lo. 911 guide ways defined by the inturned side flan es 2% 2001 the base member H. The intermediate portion of base 22 is formed with a smoothly curved corrugation 24 extending paraiiei to the lateral side flanges 23, 23 and for the full length of the base 22. corrugation 24 imparts s'ubstan- 'tial stifine'ss to the base 22 "against bending forces acting at the ends of the 'base'ine her. At one end of thejbase 22 is a vertically project "g detent member 25 having smoothly roundedf'upwardly tapering side edges 26, 2s. The 'detez'it member 25 is formed at its top with a rounded seat 21. The top portion of detent member 2t is preferably tapered in thickness so that its thickness at seat 21 is relatively reduced with respct to the thickness of the main body portion thereof. The bottom side portions of detest member 25 are notched, as shown at Zll, 2810 provide sliding clearance for the inturned 'giiic'ie flanges 29, 20 when the detent member is retracted. The intermediate portion of dtnt member as is formed with a substantially circular opening 29 having vertical opposed slot portions 38,30 connecting therewith. I I

I Atfthe other end of the base 2'2 is'a vertica'ilug 3! of a width small enough to be-rece'ived between the opposed edges of the guide flanges 20, 20 when the latch member is moved inwardly to aflatclling po'sitibn. Lug-3i fuIICtiOhS as a menual g ri'p-or handle for the latch member;

The concave recess beneathco'rrugation" '24 provides sliding clearance for the heads of the screws l6, is employed to secure the base fito meeting'rail l5.

Vertically aligned with the latch member 21 and screwed into-the side stile 32 of upper; sash 12 are a plurality of flat-headed screws shown at 33, the lowermost screw being positioned just above the level of seat 2? of the-detentpiemher 25 when the upper sash I2 is in its fullylraiseii position with respect to 1owe'r sash l3, heads of the screws 33 project outwardly from stile 32 a distance Slightly reater than the thickness of detent member 25, so that said heads may Overlap the (Sutrl surface of the detest member when it is in looking positien H "To" loektne windowin fully closed position,

moaned 3 latch member 2| is pushed inwardly so that detent member 25 abuts the stile 32 and seat 21 underlies the lowermost screw 33. Upper sash I2 is then slightly lowered so that the head of said lowermost screw overlaps the outer surface of detent member 25 and the screw shank is received in seat 21. To look the window in a partly opened position, the detent member 25 is engaged with one of the screws 33 through the intermediate circular opening 29 therein and the sash is then slightly adjusted so that the screw shank is engaged in one of the vertical slot portions 30. If an attempt is made from the outside to further Open the window by moving the sash up or down, the screw shank engages in one or the other of the slot portions 30 and prevents release of the detent member 25 by shaking the sash. To disengage the detent member, the screw head must be centered in the circular opening 29, and this can only be done from inside the window.

By tapering the top portion of detent member 25 in thickness, engagement of the seat 2'! under the head of the lowermost screw 33 is facilitated.

It will be noted that the latch member 2] is such that it may be fabricated from a single piece of relatively light sheet metal stock, and by providing the corrugation 24 the stiffness of the base 22 is made great enough to resist any bending forces which might be applied to the latch member when an unauthorized attempt is made to open the window.

In the embodiment disclosed in Figures 8 and 9, the same base member I1 is employed as in the embodiment of Figures 1 to '7. The latch member, shown at 2! has a base 22' identical with base 22 of the former embodiment and a handle lug 3! also similar to handle lug 3|. The detent portion 25' is generally similar in configuration to detent portion 25 except that it has no top seat corresponding to seat 21, nor does it have an intermediate locking aperture.

Instead it has secured to its intermediate portion an outwardly projecting detent lug 34 which may be of square, round, or any other suitable crosssectional shape. The stile 32 of the upper window sash is formed with a'plurality of spaced recesses vertically aligned with the lug 34, and

secured in each of said recesses is a metal socket member 35 having an internal cavity adapted to slidably receive the lug 38, said cavity being preferably of the same cross-sectional shape as said lug. To lock the window, the latch member 2! is merely pushed inwardly to engage the mg 34 in a selected socket member 35.

While certain specific embodiments of a window latching device have been disclosed in the .foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art.

Therefore it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention other than as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

- 1. In a window latch device, a latch member .formed from asingle piece of sheet metal and :comprising a base portion having horizontal par- ,allel side flanges and formed intermediate said flanges with an arcuate corrugation concave at lug projecting upwardly from the rear end of said base portion.

2. In a window latch device, a latch member comprising a base portion having horizontal parallel side flanges and formed intermediate said flanges with a corrugation concave at its bottom surface and extending substantially parallel to said side flanges, a detent element projecting upwardly from the forward end of said base portion, the top of said detent element being formed with a notch and the body of said detent element being formed with an opening having opposed vertical slot portions, said slot portions being substantially vertically aligned with said notch. 3. In a window latch device, a latch member formed from a single piece of sheet metal and comprising a base portion having horizontal parallel side flanges and formedintermediate said 'flanges with an arcuate corrugation concave at its bottom surface and extending substantially parallel to said side flanges, a detent element projecting upwardly from the forward end of said base portion and having smoothly curved upwardly tapering side edges, the top of said detent element being formed with an arcuate notch and the body of said detent element being formed with a generally circular opening vertically aligned with said notch and having opposed vertical slot portions, and a lug projecting upwardly from the rear end of said base portion.

4. In a window latch device, a latch member comprising a base portion having a detent element projecting upwardly from an end thereof, said detent element being formed with an opening having at least one vertical slot portion and being formed at its top edge above said opening I with a notch.

5. In a window latch device, a latch member comprising a base portion having substantially parallel side edges and having a detent element projecting upwardly from an end thereof, said detent element being formed with a generally :ircular opening having at least one vertical slot portion and being formed at its top edge above said opening with a notch.

6. In a window latch device, a latch member comprising a base portion having a detent element projecting upwardly from an end thereof, said detent element being formed with a generally circular opening having opposed vertical slot portions and being formed at its top edge above said opening with a notch.

'7. In a window latch device, a latch member formed from a single piece of sheet metal and comprising a base portion having substantially parallel side edges, a detent element projecting upwardly from the forward end of said base portion and formed with a generally circular opening having opposed vertical slot portions and being formed at its top edge above said opening with a notch, and a lug projecting upwardly from the rear end of said base portion.

JOHN W. WEXLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 889,484 Parker June 2, 1908 1,006,788 Price Oct. 24, 1911 1,601,482 Sutherland Sept. 28, 1926 2,219,338 Segal Oct. 29, 1940 2,251,038 Danen July 29, 1941 

